Zendaya could not help but feel extremely emotional after wrapping up filming for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part Two. The actress portrayed Chani, one of the main characters in the movie.
While Chani had a small part in the first film, she was given more exposure in the sequel as her story unfolds. Zendaya has previously described the character as someone complicated and with a deep well of emotions.
Zendaya Completely Broke Down After Filming Dune Part Two
During an exclusive interview via Entertainment Tonight, actress Zendaya discussed the complexity of her character and how satisfied she was to have been given the task of portraying someone as profound and intricate as Chani.
“I remember talking to Denis, and it was important to me that Chani had more agency, but it was also important to him, and so when I read the first draft, I was so happy and so excited because it gave her so much more to fight for and to dig into and also to be complicated. I love characters that are stuck between what their heart says, what their mind says.”
For the actress, she prefers to work on performances that require so much emotional impact, which is understandable because it is her field of expertise.
“It’s a lot more fun to play a character that is in emotional turmoil, you know what I mean? That’s like really struggling to figure out the right thing to do.”
Furthermore, the star remarked how vital it was to give Chani the autonomy and freedom to express herself as she plays a crucial role in being a part of a group that fights injustice.
“I just felt it was important that she have her own mind, and her own thoughts, and her own feelings about what’s happening to her and around her and to her people. She’s part of that generation that’s really fighting back against these kinds of archaic ideas. She’s like, ‘I’m against this’, ‘This doesn’t work for me.’ ”
The level of emotion that the actress had to work with in the movie affected her so much that she could not help but break down and cry in front of director Denis Villeneuve. In the same video interview, the actress was seen sobbing while the Canadian filmmaker tried to comfort her.
Zendaya Expressed Gratitude With Her Dune Journey
Speaking with BuzzFeed, the star shared she’s thankful to be part of the cast of Dune, as well as getting to work with incredible actors, including the crew and the director.
“I think something that I’ve been so grateful for in this journey is being able to work with people who are also lovely people and enjoyable to work with. To learn and grow from them makes the whole experience so much better.”
Spending several months with the same team while doing something they all love must have been the best experience ever, and for it to come to an end will always feel bittersweet, exactly why the actress got emotional after delivering her final Dune scene.
Dune Part Two is still showing in theaters.
